Dawn Clark

Director of operationsSimbionix USA Corp.Age 35

Beneath her name, Dawn Clark’s business card reads “Director of Operations,” but that barely begins to describe her responsibilities.The 35-year-old employee of medical training and simulation company Simbionix USA Corp. in Cleveland plays the roles of accountant, human resources director and office manager, while she oversees the company’s manufacturing work and does sales and marketing on top of all that.“There’s really nothing I’m not responsible for,” she said.Then Ms. Clark goes from Simbionix’s University Circle offices back to her home in Mentor to care for her 7- and 8-year-old children.“I leave work and go to my second job,” she said.In 2002, as the first U.S.-based employee of Simbionix, an Israeli company that develops virtual systems for training surgeons, Ms. Clark began as the office manager when the office had only two desks. As the company has grown, so has her role. Now with 19 U.S. employees, and seven in Cleveland, one of Ms. Clark’s major undertakings is to manage the company’s manufacturing operations.When Ms. Clark began, Simbionix performed all manufacturing overseas. Now, about 65% of manufacturing is done in Northeast Ohio, including two product lines in Eastlake.“All you hear about is outsourcing and that Cleveland’s losing jobs, so for me it was very rewarding to boost the city even in that small way,” the Euclid native said.Simbionix is currently in negotiations with the city to move downtown to the Hanna Building at 1422 Euclid Ave., Ms. Clark said.The company’s possible move could contribute to strengthening the central city’s economy, something Ms. Clark takes personally.“I spend so much time preparing my children for the future, I realized I need to help prepare the future for my children,” she said.

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